Heating system



Patented July 18, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT oFElcE HEATmGUsYs'rEM v meer: n. smith, Milwaukee, wis. Appucmon september 1s, 103s, serial No. 101,400

IClaim.

My invention relates to improvements in heating systems.

The object of my invention is to provide a space heating system of the general type in which a Vl5 radiator used as a heat exchanger is supplied with heated duid and in which a heater for the uid to be transferred into and out of the radiator is, together with said radiator or heat exchanger, lled with an oil, preferably a vegetable oil, which has a very high-boiling point and provides an excellent means of transferring heat units from a heater to a radiator.

Another object of my invention is to provide a special heating and circulating structure for vegetable oil, wherein a constant circulation is maintained during the active heating process and a rapid circulation of the oil itself around the heating means is maintained in order to prevent charring or coking of o'il upon the surface of the heating device. A

Another object of, my invention is to provide means whereby heated vegetable oil may be stored at extremely high temperatures and used as desired without affecting the heat transfer to g5 rooms to be heated by my improved heating system.

A further object of my invention is to provide means whereby vegetable oil may be heated and stored at extremely high temperature without danger of over-expansion.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is aA somewhat diagrammatic view of my heating system installed in a dwelling.

' Figure 2 is a detail of a valve which I use for controlling the circulation of heating oil in my heating system. V

Like parts are designated by the same reference characters throughout the several iviews.

For the purpose of brevity of description and clarity of disclosure I have shown my improved heating system installed in the form of a space heating system such as is popularly designated at the present time as an air conditioner for dwellings and it will be understood that my heat- 48 ing system contemplates heat exchange by means of any form of radiator and any form-of circulating system for space heating deviceswhether 1 the radiators or heat exchangersy are positioned.

room I3, to be heated. 'I'he larger structural elements involved in the heat exchange and space heating equipment shown in Fig. 1 include a heater or boiler I3', a radiator or unit heater I4, and an air circulating system in- 5 cluding a cold air return register I5, a cold air return duct I6, a plenum chamber I1, a power fan device I8 for passing cold air from the return duct I6 into the heat exchange space I9 through the radiator Il' and into a hot air supply 1o duct-20 from which the hot air is discharged into the room I3 through register 2I. The elements thus far described are in general conventional in modern home heating devices of the air conditioning type. Y 15 My new heating system and heat transfer medium includes the provison of an oil, preferably a vegetable oil 25, to fill the boiler or storage chamber and to be circulated to and from the boiler I3 in a pipe or conduit circuit including 20 the radiator or heat exchanger I4. It is thus possible for me to maintain a storagequantity of hot oil at approximately 200 to 800 degrees Fahrenheit, which oil I maintain in constant circulation between the upper portion 26 of the 25 storage chamber and the lower portion 21 there-l of beneath the heater 28, while the heater is in operation. Such circulation is induced by means of a centrifugal pump 29 which is driven by motor 30 which is energized simultaneously with 30 the heater 28. I prefer to use an electric heater controlled by a thermostat 3l which is in electrical series connection with the heater 28 and with-said motor 30. A pipe 32 leading from the top portion 26 of the storage chamber leads to a 35 three-way valve 33 whichv controls the passage of hot oil tothe heat exchanger I4; If the passage of oil to the heat exchanger I4 is shut on', the valve 33 opens a passage through a shunt pipe 3l leading to pipe 35 comprising the return lead 40 from the heat exchanger. Thus when the valve is turned to pass hot oil throughthe shunt the puinp 29 will circulate hot oil from the top of the storage chamber to the bottom thereof through a return pipe 36. 'I'he return pipe -38 45 at the point where it terminates in the lower portion 21 of the storage chamber is perforated as shown at 31 thus directing a strong current of oil against and around the heater 28.

By means of the heating and circulating dey vices above described, I am able to heat the oil withoutv causing a deposit of charred vegetable matter upon the surface of the heater.

I usually set my thermostat SI so that the heater 2l will continue to operate until the temkus perature of the oil in the 'storage chamber attains the height of approximately 800 degrees. If for any reason expansion of the oil takes place prior to the time such temperature is attained, the oil will expand into an expansion chamber 38 in which I provide an electrical switch 39 responsive to the presence of the oil whereby the switch 39 will open the circuit in the electrical wires 40 supplying the heater 28 with current and will shut off the heater for purposes yof safety.

Having provided means whereby to maintain oil at high temperature, I provide a control for the valve 33 whereby to shut on the circulation of hot oil through the heat exchanger M at a given temperature. To attain this end I provide a thermostat 45 adjacent the heat exchanger i4 and `this thermostat is connected electrically with a motor 46, a pinion 4'! upon the shaft oi which motor is engaged with a sector 48 upon the plug 49 in the three-Way valve 33. When the thermostat. registers a temperature helowY a predetermined set temperature in the heatw exchanger i4 the motor 46 is energized to open the valve 33 and thus pass heated oil to 4the exchanger. When the temperature rises above a predetermined point the circuit is broken in electric line 49' and the valve 33 is thrown to circu-v late hot oli to the shunt @d and bach to the hot= tom of th storage tank.

Having provided means for heating the oil and means for maintaining the heat exchanger I4 in proper condition ,for heat transfer to the rooms to beheated by my heat system, I provide a thermostat 50 in the rooms to be heated. This thermostat is used to complete a circuit in the electric line 5I to energize motor 52 whereby to drive fan I 8 when a room heating operation is desired. Air transferred by the fan throughout heat exchanger I4 is then passed through tne register 2i When the space I3 has been heated, the thermostat will break the circuit through the line 5I and the fan i8 will be stopped.

Iclaim:

A storage chamber for a heating system, lvegetable oil in said storage chamber, a heater in said chamber whereby to heat the oil to a high temperature, and a circulatory system for the high temperature oil whereby to pass oil to and from said chamber, said circulatory system including a conduit extending into the chamber and beneath the heater, said conduit being provided with jets for directing currents of oil for rapid circulation about said heater to prevent charring of vegetable material'thereon.

ROBERT H. SMI'I'H. 

